Comments on: Diocese of BC: Spiritual Renewal and Reform

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:02:13 +0000

I would question Bishop Cowan’s aspect of spiritual renewal since he has in the past few months appointed a civilly married lesbian to be a parish priest in the diocese of BC and a parish council in Parksville has voted in favour of the church marrying same sex couples, without first having a congregational vote.

By: stuck in Toronto

stuck in Toronto — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:44:15 +0000

Same sex union is a secular issue that has been made Legal by the Government of Canada. Consequently secular justice is seen to have been met. This is not, nor could it ever be a CHRISTIAN theological issue. Any one thinking that the Blessing of this anomoly could be sacred is listening to a different voice than that of the Christ.

By: TheRev

TheRev — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 07:11:19 +0000

The June/July 2007edition of the Anglican Journal mentions:

Bishop Jim Cowan of British Columbia, voted against the “local option” and was widely seen as one of the swing votes. He said, “I think there are people who know that I’m in favour of same-sex unions, but that I’ve been asking for the theological rationale. For it to be an issue of justice, justice is a theological issue, let’s name that and get that on the table and bring along as many people as possible in this.”

The new sexual ethic is part of the of the “spiritual renewal” and “reform” in the Diocese of B.C.

By: Warren

Warren — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:22:08 +0000

Renewal, reform, restructure, reclamation, redefine, reduce, etc., may have value in a certain context, but I think Bishop Cowan missed the most important R word – repentance.

By: Gerry O'Brien

Gerry O'Brien — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:25:30 +0000

The last paragraph in Bsp. Cowan’s diocesan paper which was not printed above says the following:
“For many, the past several years have been a time of confusion and fear. They have not been so for me. For me they have been a time of renewal and energy as I have seen and heard clergy and people of the Diocese working to enact a common mission in God’s vision for us. We are experiencing a spiritual renewal and a time of reform, and I am finding this to be an exciting time to be both an Anglican Christian and Bishop. I invite you to join me in this exciting enterprise”

It seems appropriate that Cowan’s word “spiritual” is not capitalized as that would be most inappropriate. No doubt he is experiencing “spiritual renewal” but it appears to me that it is NOT of the Holy Spirit! There is also no doubt that his diocese is undergoing a time of reform, however going in the wrong direction.
His use of the words “Anglican Christian” to me are quite confusing. How can a bishop who is practising going against the foundations of the Christian Faith possible call himself a Christian?

No wonder he says that confusion and fear are present within his diocese……

By: Gordon Arthur

Gordon Arthur — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:44:08 +0000

My problem with what he says is that reductionism is frequently associated with revisionism.

By trying to reduce Christianity to its minimum core, there is a danger of throwing out the baby with the bath water. We need the whole Gospel, including the uncomfortable bits, not just the edited highlights.

By: Peter

Peter — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:20:50 +0000

I liked what he had to say, and it would seem to me that he is in a position to directly address the revisionist tendencies in his diocese?

By: Kate

Kate — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:26:58 +0000

What we need to do is pray that the Holy Sprit bring genuine renewal to his diocese.